APHIS Seeks Stakeholder Feedback on the Protocol for Interstate Movement of Citrus Nursery Stock from Quarantined Areas

APHIS Seeks Stakeholder Feedback on the Protocol for Interstate Movement of Citrus Nursery Stock from Quarantined Areas

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is seeking stakeholder feedback on the protocol for interstate movement of citrus nursery stock from quarantined areas. This protocol, originally published in 2013, contains standards and requirements that a nursery must meet in order to move citrus nursery stock interstate from areas quarantined for citrus canker, citrus greening (Huanglongbing, HLB), and/or Asian citrus psyllid. By meeting the standards and requirements of the protocol, a nursery would be able to obtain a certificate or limited permit for the interstate movement of citrus nursery stock from quarantined areas.  

In March 2018, APHIS revised the protocol and enacted several changes, including modifying testing requirements based on plant type and clarifying inspection requirements prior to shipment. APHIS is reviewing the impacts of the enacted changes and requesting feedback from citrus stakeholders to determine if additional changes are needed.  

APHIS will accept comments through March 30, 2019. Please email comments to PPQ.Citrus.Health@aphis.usda.gov 

The full text of the 2018 protocol and associated sampling protocol are available for review on the Citrus Health Response Program website: 

• Citrus Nursery Stock Protocol
• Sampling Protocol